title: Elevated concentrations of CCR7 ligands in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggest that dendritic cells and macrophages play an important role in inflammation of eosinophilic pneumonia. The mechanism of dendritic cell and macrophage accumulation into the lung, however, is unknown. Here, we hypothesized that CCR7 ligands, CCL19 and CCL21, contribute to the accumulation of dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages in the inflamed lung of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of the CCR7 ligands as well as CCL16, CCL17 and CCL22 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 53 patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, 29 patients with sarcoidosis, 18 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 12 healthy volunteers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell sources of CCR7 ligands and CCR7-expressing cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were evaluated by immunocytochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCL19 and CCL21 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly higher in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia than in controls. Levels of CCL19, but not CCL21, were statistically correlated with the levels of CCL16, CCL17 and CCL22 in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. Immunocytochemistry revealed CCL19 expression in dendritic cells, macrophages and T-lymphocytes harvested from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, and CCR7 expression in dendritic cells and macrophages. Levels of CCL19, but not CCL21, were significantly decreased after remission in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. After provocation tests, CCL19 levels were elevated in all patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that CCL19 rather than CCL21 may contribute to the accumulation of dendritic cells and macrophages in the inflamed lungs of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine 3, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nureki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D054415:Chemokine CCL19 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D054421:Chemokine CCL21 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008024:Ligands; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C515460:CCL19 protein, human; C515478:CCL21 protein, human; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D054415:Chemokine CCL19; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D008024:Ligands; D054400:Receptors, CCR7
keywords: CCL19; CCL21; CCR7; bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; eosinophilic pneumonia